Eyeglass or spectacle case.



No. 871,144. PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

F. A. REINHARD.

EYEGLASS 0R SPEOTAGLE CASE.

APPLICATION IILED DBO.12,1905.

FRANK A. REINHARD, OF EAST WEYMOUTH OPTICAL COMPANY, A OORPO MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN RATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

EYEGLASS OR SPECTACLE CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19,1907.

Application filed December 12. 1905. Serial No. 291,417.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. REINHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at East lVeymouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eyeglass or Spectacle Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in spring-lid boxes, or eyeglass or spectacle cases, and to that class of boxes or cases, which has a spring actuated cover or lid, which is held in its closed, or open position.

The object of my invention is to improve upon the construction of spring-lid boxes, or eyeglass or s eotacle cases of the class referred to, am; to provide a spring-lid box, or

eyeglass or spectacle case of simple construction, and eflective in operation.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction of my improvements as will be hereinafter fully described.

Referring to the drawing :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spring-lid box, or eyeglass or spectacle case embodying my improvements, with the cover open. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the box or case shown in Fig. 1, with the cover closed. Fig. 3 shows, on an enlarged scale, a detached portion of the box or case shown in Fig. 1, to more clearly illustrate the spring attachment. Fig. 4 is a section, on line 4, 4, Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow, same figure. Fig. 5 shows a modified construction of the spring attachment. construction of the spring attachment, and, Fig. 7 shows another modified construction of the spring attachment.

.In the accompanying drawing, the springlid box, or eyeglass or spectacle case is shown without any covering or lining, and consists of two members or parts, preferably made of metal, a body portion 1, having in this instance the vertically extending back and ends 1, and the inwardly extending flange on its front edge; and the cover or lid 2, hinged to the body portion 1. upon the rear edge thereof, as is customary in the class of eyeglass or spectacle cases above referred to.

In connection with the body portion 1, and cover 2 of the case, I em )loy a spring attachment combined therewith, to hold the cover closed, or to hold it open.

Fig. 6 shows another modified case, on the rear edge My spring attachment consists of a helically coiled wire spring, which in this instance is combined with and attached to the body portion 1 of the case, and is referably inclosed in a pocket or sheath, which is referably formed from a part of the body 0 the thereof, which is bent or rolled into tubular shape, to contain and conceal the coiled spring. One end of the spring is attached in any suitable manner to the body of the case, or it may be left free to be held against the back lip on the body of the case, and the other end of the spring is preferably formed into a hook, which is attached to a wire loop, or link, attached to the cover.

In Fig. 1 is shown two independent helically coiled wire springs 3, and 3, in this instance coiled in opposite directions, and which are separated from each other, and located, one near each end of the case, which leaves a free open space in the center of the case, where room is required for the bridge of a spectacle, or the spring of an eyeglass. Each spring 3, and 3, in this instance extends within and is inclosed by a pocket or sheath 1 of tubular shape, which is preferably formed from the rear part or edge of the body 1, by bending or rolling over the same, see Figs. 3, and 4. One end, as 3, of each coiled spring 3, and 3, Fig. 1, may extend out at right angles to the coiled part of the spring, and be attached to the body portion 1 of the case, in this instance by cutting out a lip or tongue 1 from the body portion, and bending it u to insert the end of the wire under it, and t ion bending it down to extend in a plane with the body portion, to hold the end as shown in the drawing. The other end of the wire springs 3, and 3 is preferably formed into'a hook 3 to engage a loop or link 4, preferably of wire, which is attached to the cover 2 of the case in any suitable manner and forms a connection between the cover and the actuating spring.

In Fig. 1, a portion 2 on the cover 2 is cut through and pressed inwardly, forming an eye or loop, to receive the inwardly extending ends at the upper end of the loop 4, as shown in Fig. 3f

In Figs. 1, and 2, there is shown a continuous wire 5, extending from one end of'the case to the other, and forming in this instance the hinge wire, and the inner edge of the body portion 1, and of the cover 2, are l in the other figures, to hold the coil Wire 3 in bent or rolled over to form pocket; for the i proper g plerative position, at the rear of the hin e wire 5 so as to present a uni orinapcase. e wire 8 may be secured at each peaFance on the rear edge of the case, as I end to the bottom of the case in any suitable shown in Fig. 2. i i way, or may be secured to the rear edge of The surplus material on the rear edge of I the case, and in practice the spring 3 will the body 1, not used in inclosing the hinge preferably be placed upon the wire 8, or the wire, is used for the pockets 1", for the \glire inserted hth'ouglil the spring before s rings 3, and 3. t e wire is attac. e to t e case.

Fig. 5shows amodified construction of the i It Wlll be understood that the details of spring attachment shown in Fig. 1. In said 5 construction of my improvements may be Fig. 5, the two coiled springs 3, and 3, cor Ii variedni desired. responding to the springs 3, and 3 Fig. 1, Havlng thus described my invention, what are located at thecentral portion of the l I clalrn as new and desire to secure by Letease, coilitiguous tlo eatch other, and otnhe coll J teIiS ljftent is b i v 1 18 woun in one (irec ion, anc e 0 er in spring 1r. ox or case, comprising ie tlfie otlkiler direction, so thatitheFsprirgg actilon iboily zttpd 1coyetr lggiged togetheir, a1 lolop lpr o eac. w1 corres onc. n 1g. is a so 111( a ac iec o e cover, an, a 1e ica y shown a modified ni ay of attaching the loop l cloilecllsfpring egrtending within a pocket or 4 to the cover 2. A lip or tongue 6 is cut sieat ormed rom the rear part or ed e of out of the cover 2, and then bent backwardly I the body, said spring attached at one end to receive the ends of the loop 4, and pressed to said loop and bearing at its other end againsit the body of th cover on the inside I aggiinit thebasle the box or case.

thereo I a. spring- 1c ox or case, comprisin a In Fig. 5, the hinge wire i? notcontinuous, body and cover hlinged tggethefr, a portion? of but is made in sections, on y one section 5 sai cover resser inwarc y to orm an e e, a is shown. It will be understood that the loop or linl attached at one end to said ieye, hinge wiremay be continuous, or in sections, a lip or tongue struck up from the body poras desired.

Fig. 6 shows another modified construction. In said figure only one spring is' preferably shown at the central portion of the case, instead of the two springs shown in Fig. 5, and one end of the spring, instead of being attached to the body of the case, as shown in the other fi ures, bears against the vertically extending lip 1 at the rear edge I of the body portion 1.

The construction of the spring, shown in Fig. 6, with one end bearing against the back of the case, may be used in case one spring is used, or two springs are used, as above described. In said Fig. 6 is also shown a modified construction of the loop attachment to the cover 2. A separate piece 7 is secured, by a rivet or otherwise, to the inside of the cover, to hold the inwardly exone end to the loop and at the other end to the lip or tongue.

3. A spring-lid box or case, comprising a. body and cover hinged together, a portion of said cover pressed inwardly to form an eye, a lip or tongue struck up from the body portion, a helically coiled spring attached at one end to the lip or tongue, and means connecting the other end of said spring with said eye.

4. A spring-lid box or case, comprising a body and cover hinged together, a portion of said cover pressed inwardly to form an eye, a loop or link attached at one end to said eye, a lip or tongue struck up from the body portion, a helically coiled spring attached at one end to the loop and at the other end to the lip or tongue, and a sheath or pocket formed from the body of the case for containing said tending ends, at the upper end of the loop, spring.

between said piece and the cover. FRANK A. REINHARD.

Fig. 7 shows another modified construc- Witnesses:

tion. In said figure, a rod or wire 8 is used CHANNING M. WELLS,

instead of the pocket or sheath 1' shown H. C. CADY.

tion and a helically coiled spring attached at 

